Real Madrid, Bayern, Inter move into Round of 16

MADRID: Real Madrid beat Braga 3-0 in Group match to seal a place in the Round of 16 and extend their spectacular run in the Champions League Group Stage.

Goals for Brahim, Vini Jr. and Rodrygo clinch victory for Real Madrid against Braga to book a place in the next round on Wednesday night.

Brahim set the team on the way in the first half, stroking home from a Rodrygo pass, before the other two goals arrived in a stunning second half.

Vini Jr. extended the lead with 58 on the clock and Rodrygo made it three with an exquisite chip three minutes later.

Real Madrid only need a point against Napoli next time out to secure top spot in the group C.

Real Madrid have never failed to qualify for knockouts, coming through every time since their first involvement under this format back in the 1995/96 campaign.

On the other hand, Real Sociedad defeated Benfica 3-1 in a spectacular Group D contest to set up a third successive Group D win and sealed a place in the knockout stages.

Harry Kane's late brace helped Bayern Munich to secure their passage into the knockout stages after clinching their fourth victory in as many games in Group A with a 2-1 victory over Galatasaray in Berlin.

Bayern broke the deadlock when Joshua Kimmich's free-kick into the area was met by Kane, who headed home at the near post corner with 80 minutes on the clock.

The Englishman wasn't finished with scoring and doubled his tally six minutes later, tapping in Mathys Tel's square pass at the far post.

Galatasaray was not deterred and managed to halve the deficit in the dying moments of injury time through substitute Cedric Bakambu. However, the goal came too late, as Bayern's defense held firm to secure their 17th consecutive - and 38th overall - victory in the Champions League group stage.

Union Berlin’s incredible losing streak ended in an unlikely place as it rescued a 1-1 draw at Serie A champion Napoli.

Bukayo Saka set up the first goal before scoring himself to lead Arsenal to a 2-0 win over Sevilla on Wednesday that strengthened the English team’s position atop its Champions League group.

The England forward laid the ball off for Leandro Trossard to sweep home a low finish in the 29th minute at Emirates Stadium.

Saka then doubled the lead in the 64th by running onto Gabriel Martinelli’s pass, cutting inside and slotting home past goalkeeper Marko Dmitrovic.

Arsenal can qualify with a game to spare by beating Lens at home on November 29.

Luuk De Jong scored early and PSV Eindhoven beat Lens 1-0 for the Dutch team’s first Champions League group-stage victory in eight years.

Manchester United gave up a two-goal lead in a breathless 4-3 Champions League loss to FC Copenhagen on Wednesday that turned after Marcus Rashford was shown a red card following a brace by young United striker Rasmus Hojlund.

The loss was a calamitous setback in United’s hopes for last-16 qualification with Erik ten Hag’s side fourth in Group A on three points with two group games still to play.

Hojlund fired United to a brilliant start in a roller-coaster first half, scoring his first when the game was just 171 seconds old by tucking in Scott McTominay’s pass from close range.

The 20-year-old netted again against his former club in the 28th minute after a Kamil Grabara save sent the ball spinning practically to his feet.

The tide turned when Rashford was shown a red card in the 42nd minute for planting his foot on the ankle of Elias Jelert to protect the ball. The moment breathed new life into the home side and Mohamed Elyounoussi pulled one back three minutes later.

There was more misery to come as Copenhagen was awarded a penalty right before halftime after Harry Maguire’s handball, and Diogo Goncalves slotted it home past Andre Onana.

United briefly regained the lead when VAR awarded them a penalty for a handball which Bruno Fernandes calmly converted.

But it imploded in the final few minutes giving up two goals, in the 83rd when Lukas Lerager sprinted in to meet Rasmus Falk’s cross and four minutes later when 17-year-old super-substitute Roony Bardghji fired home.

Lautaro Martínez came off the bench and scored as Inter Milan won 1-0 at Salzburg to advance to the knockout stage of the Champions League with two matches to spare.

Martínez was one of the players initially rested by Inter coach Simone Inzaghi. He was brought on in the 68th minute along with Nicolò Barella, who won the penalty which Martínez tucked away in the 85th.

It was the 14th goal of the season in all competitions for Argentine World Cup winner Martínez. Agencies

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